# Transitioning America's economy away from consumerism

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transitioning-americas-economy-away-from-consumerism/562331>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [November 29, 2010, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transitioning-americas-economy-away-from-consumerism/562331 "2010-11-29T21:50:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 111

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**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\
**Post date:** [December 12, 2010, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transitioning-americas-economy-away-from-consumerism/562331/111 "2010-12-12T16:56:50Z")

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How. specifically, do the oil sheiks not “allow” us to develop alternative energy sources? Let’s say I’ve got some great new idea. How are they going to prevent me from pursuing it?

Also, why are you so keen on building a better transportation system? According your hypothesis, no one is going to have a job anymore, so what do they need a transportation system for? So they can visit their relatives and play canasta?

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